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Tarah Mikacich

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Tara MikacichTarah Mikacich has made quite a name for herself in the wakeboard industry over the last few years. The former skier has continued to build her solid reputation in 2014. Her contest results have been consistently good, she earned herself an O’Brien pro model and, most recently, she became a proud co-owner of Freedom Wake Park in Orlando, Florida. We caught up with Tarah to talk about the last season and her plans for 2015.
 
WW: How did you first get started in watersports? You originally used to compete in skiing, right?
TM: Right. Well, my parents are both national champion water skiers and they owned a ski school when I was growing up. We lived at the Benzel Skiing Center until I was 10, so it was pretty normal to just start skiing. My parents used to pull me around the yard and across the pool on skis when I was little. They said they didn't take me behind the boat until I asked to go...which happened when I was three years old! Everyone in my life skied, so of course I would want to be a part of it!
 
WW: What made you decide to transition to wakeboarding?
TM: I just got burned out on water skiing. Decided I needed to take a break. I'd never given wakeboarding a go, so I figured that if I was going to have some time off, why not? Cobe and I had been dating for like nine months and I just asked one day if he'd take me wakeboarding. He was like, "Yea!!" And I never looked back.
 
Tara MikacichWW: Was there any animosity with any of the skiers when you changed over?
TM: Haha, you ask like there's a possibility it went over smoothly. Yeah, I got some crap from some people that could have just as easily been supportive. I really expected to have a harder time with wakeboarders accepting me as a former skier, but everyone was super nice on the wakeboard side of things. They were all, "Oh sweet, you're wakeboarding? That's awesome. Come ride!" And then we'd actually ride together. I probably appreciated that the most.
 
WW: Yeah, we’re not all bad. You’ve always been in good shape, but lately it seems like you’ve been hitting the gym hard. How has your off-water training improved?
TM: I pretty much have always despised the gym. You can ask anyone from any time period in my life. I always felt like I'd go through the motions, but it'd never really make a difference. Then a little over a year ago the guys at Ten-80 hooked me up with SSP, which is basically a place that does personal training for athletes. They're phenomenal! They take each sport's aspects and injuries into account and then they push you. The trainer I work with pushes me way harder in the gym than I would ever push myself.
 
WW: Have you noticed a difference in your riding since you started training?
TM: I think I don't get as tired when I'm riding. I know I'm stronger and I feel like I'm more stable or something, like the little muscles don't give in.
 
Tara MikacichWW: I think everyone has noticed a major improvement in your riding over the last couple years. You just got your first pro model, right? Congrats! How does it feel to have your name on a board?
TM: Thank you. And oh my gosh, it's amazing! To me, it's like the coolest thing a board company can do for you. Just working on the graphic and having my name on my board in 2014 felt like I'd made it. Now for 2015 they put my face on the board! Ahhhh!
 
WW: It's definitely one of the most original graphics I've seen! How did it come about?
TM: It started with a swirly peach colored painting that my mom had done. I sent it to the art guys at O'Brien and they started working with it. They added in this small Wonder Woman picture and then sent it out in a group email and one of the guys suggested that it be my face as a wonder woman type character. At first, I didn't know how that would really work, but I sent them a pic and it got sketched into a cartoon-like drawing. And then I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I was like, "You made me into a superhero!" So amazing (haha)!
 
Tara MikacichWW: Definitely one to keep for the wall! Wake legend/hubby, Cobe Mikacich, is your team manager at O’Brien. Is that weird or awesome?
TM: Haha, it's awesome for him because he shares the workload. Half the team just calls me to get ahold of him. I get all excited like they want to talk to me, but they just want to know if I can track down Cobe for them. Cory Teunissen, I'm calling you out!
 
WW: You guys just recently opened a wake school together, too. How has that been?
TM: It’s so much fun! I mean, it's a lot of work, but it's what we enjoy. We opened Freedom Wake Park about two years ago. We've got a private lake in Orlando with a Malibu, an Axis and a 2.0 cable with kickers and rails. It keeps us super busy, but I love being in the boat and it's super gratifying to teach people new stuff wakeboarding and wakesurfing. People get so stoked when you help them learn something, so it's generally good vibes all the time.
 
WW: Who inspires you the most?
TM: I get inspired by people who make things look effortless, but you know they work so hard. And I get inspired by people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in or call out things that are wrong, make a few waves. It's just nice to see people who don't get too caught up in the cool factor.
 
Tara MikacichWW: Do you ride much cable or only boat?
TM: I ride way more boat than cable. We just put a 60-foot flat bar in though, so I'm all excited to spend some time on it this winter. I really enjoy hitting rails, but kickers have never really been my passion.
 
WW: I don't know how anyone is passionate about them and still walking, haha.
TM: Haha, true.
 
WW: What’s your next project that you are working on?
TM: I don't know. I just want people to have fun wakeboarding and I want my riding and involvement in the sport to encourage that. I definitely have tricks I'm working towards and videos I'm wanting to put together and shots I want to get, but that's continuous. I'm never going to feel like I can really check it off the list, you know?
 
WW: Sounds like a good plan! What profession would you like to try other than your own?
TM: Hmm... something in the kitchen. I make pretty good chocolate chip cookies. It could be fun to do a bakery of sorts. I also went to broadcasting school after I graduated from Rollins, so maybe something in TV. I don't think about it much. I'm really content (and nowhere near satisfied) in the sport of wakeboarding.
 
Tara MikacichWW: Maybe combine the two, start a cooking show?
TM: Done!
 
WW: What profession would you never like to try?
TM: Oh, there are so many that I have zero interest in. What counts as a profession? Any job? I hope I never go anywhere near statistical analysis, waste management or politics.
 
WW: I think you’re pretty set with wakeboarding! Who would you like to thank?
TM: I'm always thankful to my heavenly Father and all the things He's brought me to and brought me through. My hubby (the legend!), Cobe, and my whole family have all been and continue to be very helpful and supportive. My sponsors are all incredible. I'd like to thank the whole crew at O'Brien, Malibu, Ten-80, SSP, Point Conception, Straight Line, B4BC, Shred Ready and Great Lakes Boat Top.
 
I'd also like to thank the other riders who have ridden with me, encouraged me, and shared the journey with me. Most recently, I need to thank Chad Brown for all the sets he's pulled me, the patience he's had and the theories he's shared. Thank you WakeWorld for your time!



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